The New Zealand captain is retiring from global cricket at the end of the two-Test series against Australia, and will be looking to cap off an illustrious career with one last triumph.
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Test series can easily be lost in a single session, as Australia were reminded of at Trent Bridge during last year’s Ashes.
David Warner (vice captain), Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill (wkt), Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.
“The selectors aren’t 100 per cent sure whether (Pattinson) would get through this first test match so that decision was made”, Australia captain Steve Smith said. Having not faced each other in a bilateral series for five years, the Kiwis made the short trip to the north. History was made with the first ever day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
McCullum wants that to change and is hopeful that they will play more test matches in future.
“A bit of controversy there, I don’t think there was much of an appeal… and they went upstairs after the replay, a bit disappointing”, Australia captain Steve Smith said. It was in March 1990 that New Zealand last defeated their trans-Tasman rivals, and this time around their chances look pretty bright for more than one reason. Like his team, which is top-ranked in one-day cricket and second in tests, Smith has become something of a victim of his own success, his prolific output of runs over the past two years setting the bar high for a demanding local media.
Meanwhile McCullum, in the lead up to his 100th and penultimate Test, freely acknowledges his desire to exploit Australia’s weakness against the moving ball.
That it has taken 12 years for McCullum to reach his century, despite not missing a match, is testament to how little Test cricket New Zealand play compared to some other countries – of the top eight Test countries, only Pakistan have played fewer Tests in that period than New Zealand; England have played the most, at 153.
Henry Nicholls makes his test debut bow for the Black Caps in Wellington. “For me, it’s just about doing what I can for the team and trying to contribute by scoring big runs”, Smith said.
“You have got to be nice and patient, have a good defence and then when you get loose balls you have got to climb into them”.
Off-spinner Mark Craig has also been included while injured wicketkeeper BJ Watling has been passed fit to play. “He really wants to take that onus upon himself”, Warner said.
With no Ross Taylor (side strain) and Henry Nicholls on debut the New Zealand middle order could potentially be exposed, too, and it puts a lot on Kane Williamson’s shoulders as usual.
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“It will be nice to tick off a series win against Australia”, McCullum said on Thursday.
